BeechTalk - BT - Video: Owner Chooses to Destroy RV-8 Due to Liability

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 16:06

I suppose his clever lawyers could have told him to transfer the plane to an LLC as its only asset, de-register it, partially disassemble it, sell it as parts, and then wind up the LLC (hence, no entity to sue).

Naahh... Probably easier just to take it apart and crush it into $16 worth of Budweiser can material. It's just like me taking my recycling materials to the dump, only it doesn't cost me 100 Grand, and they don't give me $16 for my empty milk jugs.
jh

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 16:09

If you sell pieces are you till liable?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:02

That was sad to watch. Makes me wonder why is he flying in the first place? A man who destroys his airplane because of his fear of risk but still flies? That could have went to an A&P school or somewhere else for use besides flying. Even if I were that wealthy, I wouldn't piss that kind of cash away.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:09

Ya think?

Username Protected wrote:

What a shame. The RV-8 is a great plane.

I understand the thought process, but think he was going to extremes to make his point.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:23

That's like dumping truck loads of food in front of a bunch of starving kids and setting it on fire. Why post this to a bunch of pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts? It makes me sick.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:24

snuff film

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:32

If the concern of liability with a self-assembled experimental airplane was genuine and there are oodles of dough under the mattress, why not buy a certified airplane in the first place? The guy is either an expert in questionable decision making or there is something else going on. :shrug:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:34

Username Protected wrote:

If the concern of liability with a self-assembled experimental airplane was genuine and there are oodles of dough under the mattress, why not buy a certified airplane in the first place? The guy is either an expert in questionable decision making or there is something else going on. :shrug:

Why even fly at all if risk/liability is such a big deal for this guy?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:35

Has anyone successfully sued a homebuilder?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:45

Username Protected wrote:

If the concern of liability with a self-assembled experimental airplane was genuine and there are oodles of dough under the mattress, why not buy a certified airplane in the first place? The guy is either an expert in questionable decision making or there is something else going on. :shrug:

Why even fly at all if risk/liability is such a big deal for this guy?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 19:45

A twin with a chute!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 20:01

Username Protected wrote:

Has anyone successfully sued a homebuilder?

If the kit is put together correctly per the manual, successfully issued an experimental airworthiness certificate by an FAA examiner, and maintained appropriately with legitimate annual condition inspections, I don't think the person who assembled the kit bears any liability.

That being said, it doesn't mean someone won't try. Legal fees add up fast to mount a good defense. They could easily exceed $100k. If you get a sympathetic jury in the right state they could hose you for millions.

Some might say this guy was smart by hedging his bet and limiting loss to a known value of the destroyed airplane. The only way to 100% guarantee that airplane will not cause future financial loss exceeding $100k or unnecessary headache is to destroy the airplane.

The game is played differently when the zeros on your net worth start stacking up. (That's not me.) :whiteflag:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 20:16

Username Protected wrote:

I posted this video to illustrate the sad state our country is in due to product liability concerns. That an experimental airplane builder, built by a stated amateur can still be liable for an accident a second owner could have even due to his own pilot error. That this gentleman would rather throw away a hundred grand than live with a never-ending possibility of getting sued is ridiculous.

You guys have totally missed the point of the video.

Yep, I couldn't watch the whole Video, it was rather sickening. That said It looks like he parted it out, It's said a homebuilt is worth the cost of engine and avionics and you get the plane for free. RV's do hold their value better than most but from what I saw he salvaged most of the value. It's just a shame since it looked so well built and taken care of, I would have found a ceiling to hang it from....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 20:24

It's all about Sue. What a b****

Username Protected · **Posted:** 31 Oct 2015, 20:29

As someone who has viewed the building of my RV7 as a labor of love, I found watching this video sickening.
I can only dream of the day I manage to complete and fly my bird.